(From company literature) Lowepro Orion Trekker II. Lowepro’s original favorite has been updated with new aesthetics and some great new designed-for-digital features. Still the perfect companion for day hikes, it has two compartments that easily carry camera gear plus snacks, clothing or personal items. The roomy upper compartment has a generous mesh pocket, 2 digital memory pockets, a large zipper pocket that’s perfect for holding an MP3, Mini Disk or CD player and a headphone cable port that let’s you listen to music while you’re on the go. The lower compartment has a removable insert made of high-density, closed-cell foam with movable padded dividers and soft, brushed-tricot lining to protect delicate LCD screens from scratches and dust. The padded contoured shoulder harness with SlipLock™ attachment loops, detachable waistbelt and mesh-covered back pad provide a comfortable fit even on long treks. This pack also includes lots of accessory pockets, Hypalon® attachment loops and an adjustable sternum strap.

I have the original Orion daypack, which is very similar except that the external appearance of the II is a bit more streamlined.

I really like the design, with a separate bottom compartment for the camera and lenses, and a nice large top compartment with some divisions and pockets for things like a water bottle, lunch, maps, GPS, raingear, etc etc. I like being able to get at the camera gear without actually setting the pack down, which can be done with a bit of care, and is almost impossible with the usual camera pack arrangement, where the pack has to be set on its back before opening it. That can be very hard to do if the ground is wet, muddy, or sandy. Also, standard photo packs never have enough room for all the extra gear mentioned above.

The build quality is great. I have had photo backpacks by Tamrac and M-Rock, and on those the main support straps have eventually started to fray and separate from the body of the pack. the Lowepro just keeps going.

The harness design could be better. If you are just strolling along and stopping frequently to take pictures, you don't really want to use the waist strap, but something about the way it hangs puts more stress on the shoulders than some other bags. If you let it sit low on your back and use the waist strap, that problem goes away, but ease of getting it on and off suffers.

photofanatic

Registered: December 2006Posts: 9

Lowepro Orion Trekker II review by photofanatic

Review Date: 12/16/2006

Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: $90.00| Rating: 8

Pros:

nice ergonomics and pockets

Cons:

when full, it hurts!

Well built... good for carrying a camera and some lunch... However, if bottom compartment is full, it rests awkwardly on the back(painful). But if not full, the straps are adequate for a pleasant hike.

Tomti75

Registered: December 2006Posts: 13

Lowepro Orion Trekker II review by Tomti75

Review Date: 12/5/2006

Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: $80.00| Rating: 9

Pros:

Very versatile and well built

Cons:

Not very confortable when fully loaded

This bag is really useful and versatile :
- bottom compartment for the photo gear can be customized with typical foam-scratch pads
- top compartment can carry food, clothes or anything you want for a typical one day photo trip.

The build quality is excellent, but when fully loaded in both compartments, the soft back makes it a little unconfortable to carry for hours, compared to "real" hiking backpacks. But it's still much better compared to most basic photo backpacks.